Do Breast Implants Feel Natural?

Question

MemoryGel breast implants are designed to feel more like natural breast tissue. Do you see your patients describing their implants as feeling natural?

Sam Speron, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi,
Thank you for your question.
Silicone implants, whether it be Mentor's Memory Gel or Allergan's Naturelle, do usually feel more natural that saline implants because they are made of materials that feel more similar to your own natural breast tissue. Saline implants can feel natural as well, but there are certain factors that you should consider. 
The amount of breast tissue you have beforehand is very critical. If you do not have much, it may be better to go with silicone and/or under the muscle. This will provide more cushioning for the implant and result in a more natural feeling. Sizing is critical too for a natural feel. Larger implants tend to be less natural feeling and looking. In terms of feeling more natural, many patients say that silicone feels more natural.
Best regards,
Dr. Speron

Dhaval M. Patel, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Yes. It is normal that they will feel swollen and firm for the first few weeks after surgery, but they will then settle. Best of luck!Dhaval M. Patel Double board certified Plastic surgeon Hoffman Estates BarringtonOakbrook Chicago

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

There are no doubts that the Mentor Memory Gel implants feel more natural than a comparable saline implant and for a given volume are less dense.
These are a nice option in thin patients with minimal soft tissue coverage.
Clearly patients must meed the FDA criteria of being 22 years or older for a tradtional augmentation procedure.
Patients are typically very satisfied with the feel and appearance of the Memory gel implants.
One concern is both the short and long term costs and that must be addressed during the consultation.

Richard Baxter, MD · Answer

In general, silicone gel-filled implants feel more natural than saline because the consistency is closer to that of breast tissue. The less of your own body tissue (fat layer, breast tissue) the more important it is. With more coverage, saline implants may be perfectly fine.
There are basically 2 types of silicone implants in the U.S.: Mentor Memory gel, and Allergan Natrelle are very similar, with a natural feeling cohesive gel, and the other type is the "gummy bear" which is Mentor's CPG and Allergan's Style 410. Those are firmer, shaped implants, and there is some debate about how natural the feel is. In any case, they are not yet FDA-approved though we anticipate it should be soon.

John L. Burns Jr., MD · Answer

Choosing an appropriate sized implant and placing the implant under the muscle to give more tissue coverage will give you a more natural feeling breast. Cohesive gel implants, although more expensive, do have a more natural feel in comparision so their saline counterparts.

Victor M. Perez, MD, FACS · Answer

To answer the question, no, breast implants do not feel natural. However, silicone implants do feel more natural than saline. If you have a patient with minimal soft tissue coverage you will always be able to feel the implant. If the patient has a good amount of soft tissue and you use silicon implants for the untrained hand it will feel very natural.

Peter A. Aldea, MD · Answer

Yes - They do. I fully agree with the points made by Drs. Placik and Zwiren.
If the basic requirements of a breast augmentation are met (picking an implant that would be covered by your breast tissue, sit on your chest wall and not keep sliding to the sides because its base is too wide and fit your figure), silicone gel implants will be lighter, ripple less and have a much more natural feel.
Good Luck.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Natural feeling breasts depend upon a number of variables. I think silicone gel implants feel softer than saline. Also, patients with more natural tissue feel more natural than those with less soft tissue coverage.

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD · Answer

The key to a nice and natural result with breast augmentation is soft tissue covering. Most implants, saline or gel may feel and look natural when there is sufficient overlying tissue. Otherwise a gel implant will always feel better

John P. Stratis, MD · Answer

The memory gel implants definitely look and feel vey natural in most patients. Only when there are capsular contractures or large implants in tight skinned breasts do the implants start feeling less natural. Patients are choosing gel implants over saline 9/1 in my practice.

Do Breast Implants Feel Natural?

Answers (11)

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